Williamstown Public School

Williamstown Public is a rural school of 380 students nestled in the heart of Glengarry County. Although the school is situated in the village of Williamstown, most of the students are bussed to school. Williamstown serves children from Junior Kindergarten to grade six. The children arrive to school at 9:05 a.m. They are immediately welcomed into the classroom by their teachers. The day begins with announcements and the singing of O' Canada.

Our Kindergarten classes are composed of four and five year-old students who attend The Full-Day Early Learning – Kindergarten Program. They enjoy a separate beautiful yard adjacent to the school. The various pieces of playground equipment, free of interruption from others, are available to them when their teachers take them outdoors.

Upon entering grade one, students in the Regular Program receive French instruction for 40 minutes per day and students in the Immersion program receive 150 minutes of French instruction per day. The subjects taught in the Immersion program are Reading, Writing, Social Studies, the Arts, and Health and Physical Education.

Programming in the Primary and Junior Division is focusses on a balanced literacy and mathematics. The 150 minute morning block is dedicated to developing student literacy and numeracy. The teachers have committed to a 90 minute literacy block to enrich the children's language skills and a 60 minute math block to enhance numeracy skills. The teachers are dedicated to working together and plan integrated units and culminating events throughout the year.

We have a full-time Learning Resource coach, as well as a Learning Resource teacher, who support our classroom teachers with programming for our students with special needs. They also work with students in the classrooms, in small groups and, at times, one-on-one. We have the services of five full-time and one part-time Educational Assistants. They work in various classrooms, and with students who require speech and language development, occupational therapy, physio-therapy, assistance with behaviour, life skills, and other programming needs.

Williamstown offers a Before & After School program, a learning commons with a 24-station computer lab and maker-space, access to a number of mobile devices such as ipads and laptops, in-class Smart Boards, scanners and computers. We are also home to the South Glengarry Child Care Centre.

Communication with our families is an important aspect of our children's time with us. Our parents and guardians receive phone calls, positive notes, agenda messages, and are invited to curriculum nights and family events throughout the year. They receive an interim report card as well as two regular report cards issued in February and June.

Families are also encouraged to volunteer in their child's class and attend our concerts, plays and the celebrations that take place at the end of each of our units. A calendar/newsletter is sent home at the beginning of the month.

Students at Williamstown are involved in sports programs and participate in the Cornwall Family of Schools interscholastic tournaments. During the winter, the students skate at the South Glengarry Recreation Centre next door to the school, and participate in snowshoeing and cross country skiing at Summerstown Trails. Our students are involved in Public Speaking, musical and dramatic productions throughout the year, and various other academic activities planned by the school and the School Board. We have Bronze Level Eco-Club who are currently designing and building an eco-garden with staff and community members which will contain a "Buddy Bench" and various habitats for insects and bees. Students also participate in a school wide Learn to Run Program in May, culminating in a Race Day in June. We have high expectations for our students at W.P.S and provide grade junior students with numerous opportunities throughout the year to develop their leadership skills.

Our families demonstrate their commitment to student learning through our School Council, fundraising efforts, and time given by various volunteers. Visit our school council page.